A Special Official Funeral was held for struggle stalwart and former Minister, Pravin Gordhan, at ICC Durban today, where President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a eulogy. Gordhan passed away last Friday at the age of 75 after a short battle with cancer.
A HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE
Hundreds, including several dignitaries, arrived to pay their respects to Gordhan. His body was handed over to the state by his family, which entailed changing the ANC flag on his coffin to a South African flag. Reading his eulogy at the funeral, Ramaphosa said the country has lost a remarkable leader who was the servant of the people. "Today we bid farewell to a humble servant of the people, Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan. For all his achievements, despite his immense contribution to this country, Pravin was at all times a humble human being and activist. It was his humility as a person and as a leader that made him great," Ramaphosa said. The President described Gordhan as a leader who stood for what was right even at great personal cost to himself. He said even as a member of Parliament, Gordhan remained a grassroots activist. "He was one of those rare people who knew the cost of struggle. His activism earned him arrests, beatings and detention. He knew the perils of underground work. As an operative of Operation Vula, he was interrogated, tortured and thrown into solitary confinement. Yet, whenever called upon, he stepped forward to serve," the president said.
AN EXAMPLERY FATHER
Gordhan's daughter, Anisha described her father as one of the few men who helped get South Africa out of the injustices. Anisha thanked all those who've shown support since the passing of her father. "Your presence has been a great source of comfort for us. We gather here to honour his extraordinary life. He loved his country and its people. I'd like to start by asking you to picture South Africa, where the price of bread is R200. Where billions of dollars have been paid to Russia for failed nuclear programs, where access to clear water is limited to one bucket per day and where loadshedding lasts for days. A country where there is judicial incompetence and military interference. Where the rule of law and access to basic education are non existent. This is what a failed state looks like. We were very close to this but our father was among the few courageous souls that fought for our country and its people from the brink of collapse." Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017. He also served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015 and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until his March 2024 announcement of a planned retirement.
